[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 175 (Monday, September 11, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47171-47172]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22609]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5294-8]


Ozone, Particulate Matter and Regional Haze Implementation 
Program Subcommittee

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: On November 8, 1990, the EPA gave notice of the establishment 
of a Clean Air Act Advisory Committee 

[[Page 47172]]
(CAAAC) (55 FR 46993) which was established pursuant to the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. app. 2).
    Today, EPA announces establishment of the Ozone, Particulate Matter 
(PM) and Regional Haze Implementation Programs Subcommittee 
(Subcommittee) under the CAAAC. The purpose of the Subcommittee is to 
provide advice and recommendations on integrated approaches for 
implementing potentially new national ambient air quality standards 
(NAAQS) for ozone and particulate matter, as well as a new regional 
haze program. These programs have an interrelationship in the 
atmospheric processes that form ozone and fine particulate matter and 
possess common sources of precursor emissions. Further, EPA recognizes 
the importance of considering these programs in an integrated manner if 
cost effective control strategies are to be developed to meet public 
health and welfare objectives. The EPA envisions an open process that 
will examine key aspects of the existing implementation programs to 
provide for more effective implementation of the potential new 
standards, as well as approaches that will more completely integrate 
broad regional and national control strategies with more localized 
efforts. The focus of the Subcommittee will be to assist EPA in 
developing implementation strategies, preparing supporting analyses, 
and identifying and resolving impediments to the adoption of the 
resulting programs.

OPEN MEETING DATE: Notice is hereby given that the Subcommittee will 
hold an open meeting on September 26, 1995 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the 
Sheraton Imperial, 4700 Emperor Boulevard, Morrisville, North Carolina 
27560. Due to the size of the meeting room, seating is limited to 
approximately 150 observers and will be made available on a first come, 
first served basis. To assist EPA in planning the public meeting, 
persons interested in attending should register with EPA by contacting 
Ms. Cathy Ward at TRC Environmental Corporation at 919-419-7500 to give 
their name and address before September 19, 1995.
    The public is invited to submit written views and recommendations 
on new integrated approaches for implementing these programs. Such 
comments should be submitted (in duplicate) to Docket A-95-38 by 
October 10, 1995.

INSPECTION OF DOCUMENTS: A transcript of the meeting as well as other 
relevant materials will be available for public inspection in EPA Air 
Docket No. A-95-38. The docket is open for public inspection and 
copying between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., weekdays, at the Air and 
Radiation Docket and Information Center (6102), room M-1500, 401 M 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460. A reasonable fee may be charged for 
copying.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. John H. Haines, Designated Federal Officer for the Subcommittee, at 
919-541-5533, or by mail at U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning 
and Standards, Air Quality Strategies and Standards Division, MD-15, 
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EPA is presently reviewing the NAAQS for 
ozone and particulate matter. In a related action, EPA is in the 
process of developing a regional haze program to address visibility 
impairment in Federal Class I areas. The EPA's schedule for ozone calls 
for proposal in mid-1996 and final action in mid-1997. The EPA is under 
a court-ordered schedule for particulate matter to announce a proposal 
decision by June 30, 1996, and to take final action by January 31, 
1997. The development of a regional haze program is on a schedule 
similar to the particulate matter review.
    Based on the assessment to date, a principle consideration would be 
to replace the existing 1-hour primary standard for ozone with a new 8-
hour standard. Consideration is also given to replacing the existing 1-
hour secondary standard for ozone with a new secondary standard with a 
more appropriate averaging period. While the review of the particulate 
matter NAAQS has not progressed as far as the ozone review, preliminary 
assessments of the available scientific information suggest that fine 
particles are more likely to be associated with reported health 
effects. In addition, fine particles are the major cause of visibility 
impairment. Therefore, consideration is being given to the 
establishment of a new 24-hour and annual fine particle NAAQS to 
replace the existing 24-hour PM-10 (particles with an aerodynamic 
diameter less than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers) standard. The 
existing annual PM-10 standard is likely to be retained. To address the 
welfare effects of fine particles on visibility, consideration is being 
given to a regional haze program which allows for regional variations 
in implementation.
    Given the likelihood that both the ozone and particulate matter 
NAAQS may be revised, as well as the development of a new regional haze 
program, EPA believes it is important at this time to obtain the advice 
and recommendations from a broad spectrum of the public on new 
approaches for implementing these programs. Toward this end, EPA has 
established the Subcommittee to be comprised of approximately 50 
members from business and industry, environmental groups, State, local 
and tribal governments, as well as other Federal agencies. Members of 
the Subcommittee were selected on the basis of their professional 
qualifications and diversity of perspectives in order that EPA has the 
benefit of the full range of views in developing new approaches for 
implementing these programs.
    Meetings will be held approximately four times a year, as 
determined by the chairperson. The meetings will be open to the public 
and will be announced in the Federal Register. The Designated Federal 
Officer will be present at all meetings and is authorized to adjourn 
any meeting whenever it is determined to be in the public interest. 
Each meeting will be conducted in accordance with an agenda approved in 
advance of the meeting by the Designated Federal Officer.


    Dated: September 6, 1995.
John S. Seitz,
Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. 95-22609 Filed 9-8-95; 8:45 am]
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